Winter 1777–1778Reputable sourceWell documented
Valley Forge
On the timeline · around Winter 1777–1778 ·
What happened
From December 1777 to June 1778 Washington's army wintered at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, building a camp of some 2,000 huts. Disease, not battle, was the great killer, claiming around 2,000 lives; meanwhile the Prussian officer Baron von Steuben drilled the soldiers into a more disciplined force.
Why it matters
The ordeal at Valley Forge became a symbol of American perseverance, and the army that marched out was better trained and more professional than the one that had marched in.
Sources
- National Park Service. What Happened at Valley Forge · Reputable source